Nokia to supply traffic data for Bing Maps

Sophie Curtis |
May 30, 2012

Nokia has announced it will supply traffic information and geocoding algorithms to Microsoft's Bing Maps, allowing users to learn about incidents that might disrupt their journeys and find better travel routes.

Nokia has announced it will supply traffic information and geocoding algorithms to Microsoft's Bing Maps, allowing users to learn about incidents that might disrupt their journeys and find better travel routes.

Nokia, which owns mapping firm Navteq, already provides traffic information via its Where Platform to customers in 24 countries worldwide. Now Bing users will also be able to access this information, and the traffic information that was already available on Bing Maps in the US will be extended to include side streets.

Bing Maps is also using Nokia Maps geocoding algorithms, which take latitude and longitude readings and connect them to a readable address. This will allow third party developers to create location-based apps for Windows Phone and other platforms that use Bing Maps.

The news follows Nokia's decision to adopt Microsoft's Windows Phone as its primary smartphone platform last year. The company's marketing manager Pino Bonetti said in a blog post that the partnership with Microsoft includes teaming up with Bing to offer location-based services and apps.

Bing still has a long way to go to catch up with Google, which remains the dominant player in search. However, Microsoft continues to invest in the platfrom, with the hope that it will eventually eat into Google's market share.